National
Court extends suspects’ remand
The Morang District Court on Tuesday remanded 28 persons in custody for further investigation into the 33 kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of Sanam Shakya, an alleged carrier.Binod Bhandari & Madhav Ghimire
The Morang District Court on Tuesday remanded 28 persons in custody for further investigation into the 33 kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of Sanam Shakya, an alleged carrier.
A single bench of District Judge Narayan Prasad Sharma directed police to continue their detention. Judge Sharma ordered police to release one person on general date and another on bail. There were 30 suspects in police custody.
The court ordered the release of Bishnu Khadka, a driver of then SSP Shyam Khatri, on Rs15,000 bail as he was not proven guilty. Amar Bahadur Thapa, a bodyguard of SSP Khatri, was also released on general date for the lack of proof of his involvement in the crime. The court remanded former Deputy Inspector General Govinda Niraula and suspended Superintendent of Police Bikashraj Khanal, SSP Dibesh Lohani, DSP Prajit KC, DSP Sanjay Raut and Sub-inspector Balkrishna Sanjel in custody. Rajan Kumar, Tek Raj Malla Thakuri, Madan Prasad Ghimire aka Madhav, Mohan Kafle, Lakpa Sherpa and Narendra Karki aka Krishna and businessmen Bhujung Gurung, Rajendra Kumar Shakya and Mahabir Golyan and airport staffers Lal Bahadur Magar, Birendraman Shrestha, Doram Khatri, Kapil Raj Puri and Bal Krishna Shrestha are among others remanded in custody.
The District Attorney’s Office filed a charge sheet at the Morang District Court against 63 suspects in the 33 kg gold smuggling case and the murder of Shakya. Thirty-two other suspects are still at large. The office also recommended recovery of Rs17 billion and an additional fine of Rs18 million from the accused.
Gore presented before court
The main accused in the gold smuggling case, Chudamani Uprety aka “Gore” was presented to the Morang District Court on Tuesday. A source said the court will start recording of statements from him on Wednesday. Police presented Gore, who was flown to Biratnagar from Kathmandu, to the court amid tight security. The local administration had scaled up security as relatives of Sanam Shakya, an alleged gold carrier killed by the smugglers, chanted slogans demanding strong action when Uprety was brought to the court. Uprety was taken to the District Police Office after he landed in Biratnagar.